3 hurt in drug explosion at San Diego hotel

Jan. 30, 2013
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Authorities are investigating whether crystal methamphetamine was being made and smoked before an explosion Wednesday in a room at a Heritage Inn near Sea World in San Diego. Three people were burned. / Lenny Ignelzi, AP

A 21-year-old man lit a cigarette and ignited butane being used to extract hashish oil from marijuana, said San Diego Fire-Rescue Department spokesman Maurice Luque. The explosion knocked down three walls and blew out windows in several rooms of the three-story building. Smoke and flames were seen pouring from the roof.

Residents reported seeing a man running down the hallway in flames.

The man suffered life-threatening burns and a 20-year-old woman with him was seriously burned. A 20-year-old man in an adjacent room suffered a concussion and burns, U-T San Diego reported. None have been identified so far.

Several boxes of 10-inch butane spray cans were in the room but did not explode, Luque said.

Julie Jordan, 30, who was asleep on the second floor with a friend's 3-year-old, said the wall of her room "literally blew into us."

"I'm still picking debris out of my hair," she said.

Police said the couple in the room may face charges.

Authorities initially suspected that crystal methamphetamine was being "cooked" and smoked inside the room, according to news reports citing law enforcement sources.